by Larry Eder
This is Stuart Weir’s last piece on the Paris DL. In this third of his Paris pieces, Stuart lets the British athletes speak on their meets.
Brits, in their own words
Five British athletes participated in the Meeting de Paris. All five told me how they felt the afternoon went.
Morgan Lake was seventh in the high jump, with 1.92 in the event where Yaraslava Mahuchikh set a new World record of 1:92. Morgan’s second attempt at 1.95 was close. She said: “I am happy with how today went. 1.92 is my second season’s best. I’m happy with how I performed at the 1:95. I definitely have that in me. It was just a technical mistake. I think I was trying too hard. It was a light-bulb moment when I realized it would come if I just relaxed and enjoyed it. I’m disappointed with the placement, but I have one more meeting in Germany – before Paris, then holding camp. I will back myself for the games. After Germany, I will work two weeks with my coach Robbie [Grabarz] before the games”.
“I was very close on the second attempt at 1.95. It was frustrating as I was just too close to take off. It’s a pretty fast track and a lovely day so I just needed to trust myself and jump as I know it’s within me. That will give me more confidence in the next competition. I just need to show it”.
Laviai Nielsen was fifth in the 400m in 50.67, a PR. Her assessment of the race was: “You can never be unhappy with a PB. I’m also pleased with my consistency. (She has run 51.04, 50.92, 50.86, 50.73, 50.71, 50.67 this year). That was one of my goals for the season – to be consistent. I also know there is a good time for me; I just have to be patient and wait for it to happen.
“I like running in the outside lane because it lets you concentrate on yourself. Sometimes in a fast race like this you can get carried away by what everyone else is doing. I just ran my own race and felt strong all the way”.
A particular joy for Laviai is that her twin sister, Lina, is also in the GB team in the 400h. “I feel almost happier that my sister made the Olympics than that I did. She’s had such a tough career and so deserves it. Throughout her whole career she’s probably had one of the toughest journeys that any athlete has had. To go to the Olympics together has been our dream since we were 16. We are really going to enjoy it and make the most of it. I can’t wait to get out there”.
Lizzie Bird was third in the steeplechase in 9:09.07, behind Winifred Yavi and Alice Finot, who set a French record. Bird said: “It was good. I felt fine until the last 200 meters or the last lap when I didn’t have another gear to stick with the leaders. This is my first Diamond League of the year. The aim was just to come out here and run fast – with placing not really mattering – just to see where I am. I go to St Moritz on Monday for two weeks of solid training”.
The race of the day was the women’s 1500, which Faith Kipyegon won in a world record 3:49.04. There were three GB athletes in the race:
Laura Muir’s third time was 3:53.79 (PB/NR)—if you want to be pedantic, it was a British record and a Scottish record!
Georgia Bell fifth 3:56.64 (PB and first sub 4m)
Katie Snowden ninth 3:58.13
Laura Muir began by joking that she is Faith’s lucky charm as she always helps her to a world record: “I think that’s four in a row – world records when I ran with Faith. Amazing to be part of these races had to be running fast as well”.
She was delighted with her own race: “I have only run 3:54 once before – winning silver in Tokyo, and I knew it would take something special even to run 3:54 again, but to run 3:53 – I can’t put it into words. Sorry, I’m getting a little emotional because it means so much.
“I just ran my own race. I thought that going with the pace that Faith set off at would be a stretch. I still felt strong at the end, so maybe there’s a 3:52. I have not run that pace for a while, so doing that and knowing I’m standing up at the end meant there was still a bit left”.
She also talked about the challenge of running against Faith—running fast yet only seeing her in the distance! “It used to be hard, but now I’m used to it. You just have to run your own race. You never know what will happen, so I’m used to it.”
Georgia Bell, who beat Laura to win the GB trials last week, said: “It was amazing. I knew it was going to be a fast race today. Everyone said it was a fast track, and with Faith Kipyegon going for it, I just hoped I could be pulled along. I felt the energy, and I did a four-second PB”.
Talking about how quick her progress has been after returning to running after several years away, she added: “It has been an incredible journey and has really ramped up the last few months, and now I’ve made my first Olympic team. But there’s still work to be done throughout the season. At the same time I’m very happy to see how the hard work is paying off.
“My plans for the next three weeks are to run an 800 in the London Diamond League in my home city. My teammate Keely will also be running, so it should be fun. Otherwise, just getting ready for Paris”.
Katie Snowden said, “It was pretty fast. In a race like that, you tend to judge yourself against the pace at the front, but I was pretty happy to go sub-4. It’s a privilege to run with some of these girls. The times are incredible. When I finished, I just thought, “World record then and all the times underneath race…” It is exciting and really fun to be part of these races.”
